Determining if a target device is collocated with other devices in a users contacts list

ABSTRACT

A method to determine whether a target device is collocated with at least one other device within a plurality of devices associated with a user&#39;s contact list is provided. The method may include determining location information for each of the plurality of mobile devices associated with the user&#39;s contact list. The method may also include selecting a target device within the plurality of devices. The method may further include determining, based on the location information, whether the selected target device is collocated with the at least one other device within the plurality of devices. Additionally, the method may include displaying the at least one other collocated device to the user. The method may also include determining if the at least one other collocated device is selected by the user. The method may include connecting the target device and the selected at least one other collocated device to the user&#39;s device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of computing, andmore particularly to mobile communication.

BACKGROUND

Mobile devices have become a primary source of communication. Manypeople carry their mobile devices with them throughout the day and usethem to contact other people via the other person's mobile device.However, often, people may not be aware of whether any of their othercontacts are located near the intended recipient of a call.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a method to determine whether a targetdevice is collocated with at least one other device within a pluralityof devices associated with a user's contact list stored on the user'sdevice is provided. The method may include determining locationinformation for each of the plurality of mobile devices associated withthe user's contact list. The method may also include selecting a targetdevice within the plurality of devices associated with the user'scontact list. The method may also include determining, based on thelocation information, whether the selected target device is collocatedwith the at least one other device within the plurality of devicesassociated with the user's contact list. The method may further includedisplaying the at least one other collocated device to the user.Additionally, the method may include determining if the at least oneother collocated device is selected by the user. The method may alsoinclude connecting the target device and the selected at least one othercollocated device to the user's device based on the determiningindicating that the at least one other collocated device is selected.

According to another embodiment, a computer system to determine whethera target device is collocated with at least one other device within aplurality of devices associated with a user's contact list stored on theuser's device is provided. The computer system may include one or moreprocessors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or morecomputer-readable tangible storage medium, and program instructionsstored on at least one of the one or more tangible storage medium forexecution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least oneof the one or more memories, wherein the computer system is capable ofperforming a method. The method may include determining locationinformation for each of the plurality of mobile devices associated withthe user's contact list. The method may also include selecting a targetdevice within the plurality of devices associated with the user'scontact list. The method may also include determining, based on thelocation information, whether the selected target device is collocatedwith the at least one other device within the plurality of devicesassociated with the user's contact list. The method may further includedisplaying the at least one other collocated device to the user.Additionally, the method may include determining if the at least oneother collocated device is selected by the user. The method may alsoinclude connecting the target device and the selected at least one othercollocated device to the user's device based on the determiningindicating that the at least one other collocated device is selected.

According to yet another embodiment, a computer program product todetermine whether a target device is collocated with at least one otherdevice within a plurality of devices associated with a user's contactlist stored on the user's device is provided. The computer programproduct may include one or more computer-readable tangible storagemedium and program instructions stored on at least one of the one ormore tangible storage medium, the program instructions executable by aprocessor. The computer program product may include program instructionsto determine location information for each of the plurality of mobiledevices associated with the user's contact list. The computer programproduct may also include program instructions to select a target devicewithin the plurality of devices associated with the user's contact list.The computer program product may also include program instructions todetermine, based on the location information, whether the selectedtarget device is collocated with the at least one other device withinthe plurality of devices associated with the user's contact list. Thecomputer program product may further include program instructions todisplay the at least one other collocated device to the user.Additionally, the computer program product may include programinstructions to determine if the at least one other collocated device isselected by the user. The computer program product may also includeprogram instructions to connect the target device and the selected atleast one other collocated device to the user's device based on thedetermining indicating that the at least one other collocated device isselected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings. The various features of the drawings arenot to scale as the illustrations are for clarity in facilitating oneskilled in the art in understanding the invention in conjunction withthe detailed description. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a networked computer environment according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a networked computer environment including multipledevices according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an operational flowchart illustrating the steps carried out bya program to determine if a target device is collocated with otherdevices in a user's contact list according to one embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of internal and external components ofcomputers and servers depicted in FIG. 1 according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed embodiments of the claimed structures and methods are disclosedherein; however, it can be understood that the disclosed embodiments aremerely illustrative of the claimed structures and methods that may beembodied in various forms. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theexemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplaryembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete and will fully convey the scope of this invention to thoseskilled in the art. In the description, details of well-known featuresand techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring thepresented embodiments.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of computing,and more particularly to mobile communication. The following describedexemplary embodiments provide a system, method, and program product to,among other things, determine whether a target device is collocated withother devices in a user's contact list.

As previously described, mobile devices have become a primary source ofcommunication. However, a caller often may not be aware if any of thepeople associated with the contacts stored in the caller's contact listare in the same location as the intended recipient of the call.

As such, the caller may not be able to communicate necessary informationto multiple contacts listed in the caller's contact list who may be inthe same location as the callee, simply because the caller is not awareof the location of people in the caller's contact list. Furthermore, thecaller may even decide not to place a call as the presence of aparticular contact with the callee causes them to decide the calleewould not be free to talk. As such, it may be advantageous, among otherthings, to provide a mechanism to determine the locations of the peopleassociated with the contacts in the address book of the caller's device.Additionally, it may be advantageous for a callee to be able to see whois present with the caller when the callee receives a call from thecaller.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The following described exemplary embodiments provide a system, method,and program product to, among other things, determine whether a targetdevice (i.e., a callee's device) is collocated with at least one otherdevice that is associated with one or more entries in a user's contactlist. As previously described, the present embodiment may provide amechanism to determine whether contacts in the address book of thecaller's device are collocated.

According to at least one implementation, a first device may send acommand to discover the locations of the contacts stored in the addressbook of the first device. The first device may then display the contactsthat are in the same location as the intended recipient of the call. Assuch, the present embodiment may provide an effective means for a callerto know if the callee may be free to have a discussion with one of thecaller's other contacts. Therefore, it may be beneficial for the callerto know if any of the caller's other contacts may be present with thecallee in order to have a conversation in which the callee may conferwith the other person (i.e., another contact) present with them.

Additionally, according to the present embodiment, the collocated devicemay be patched into a conversation between the caller (using a firstdevice) and the callee (using a target device) by utilizing existingshort range communication technologies, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Ficommunication. As such, the present embodiment may save on callingcharges and additionally, may allow a multi-way conversation without thenecessity of a speaker phone.

Furthermore, according to at least one implementation, a first device(i.e., the caller's device or user's device) may send a query to acoordinating server listing the phone numbers obtained from the contactlist stored in the address book of the first device. Then, the servermay return information determining which devices are collocated. Next,the collocated information may be then be displayed on the screen of thefirst device adjacent to each number listed in the contacts list storedon the first device. Furthermore, the displayed list may be updatedduring the call if the people who are collocated change. The collocatedinformation may be displayed based on a predetermined radius. Forexample, the displayed list may apply to collocated contacts that areeach within 0.25 miles of each other. The selected radius may mitigatethe probability that another contact (i.e., person) will unexpectedlyappear mid-conversation (i.e., voice) or communication (i.e., text). Forinstance, a contact outside the 0.25 mile radius is less likely toappear during a presently initiated communication between the user andone of their contacts.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary networked computer environment 100in accordance with one embodiment is depicted. The networked computerenvironment 100 may include a computer 102 with a processor 104 and adata storage device 106 that is enabled to run a Target DeviceCollocator Program 108A. The networked computer environment 100 may alsoinclude a server 112 that is enabled to run a Target Device CollocatorProgram 108B and a communication network 110. The networked computerenvironment 100 may include a plurality of computers 102 and servers112, only one of which is shown for illustrative brevity. Thecommunication network may include various types of communicationnetworks, such as a wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), atelecommunication network, a wireless network, a cellular network, apublic switched network and/or a satellite network. It may beappreciated that FIG. 1 provides only an illustration of oneimplementation and does not imply any limitations with regard to theenvironments in which different embodiments may be implemented. Manymodifications to the depicted environments may be made based on designand implementation requirements.

The client computer 102 may communicate with server computer 112 via thecommunications network 110. The communications network 110 may includeconnections, such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber opticcables. As will be discussed with reference to FIG. 4, server computer112 may include internal components 800 a and external components 900 a,respectively and client computer 102 may include internal components 800b and external components 900 b, respectively. Client computer 102 maybe, for example, a device, a telephone, a personal digital assistant, anetbook, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, orany type of computing device capable of running a program and accessinga network.

A program, such as a Target Device Collocator Program 108A and 108B mayrun on the client computer 102 or on the server computer 112. The TargetDevice Collocator Program 108A, 108B may determine if a target device iscollocated with other devices in a user's contacts list stored on theuser's device. The Target Device Collocator method is explained infurther detail below with respect to FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary networked computer environment 200including multiple devices in accordance with one embodiment isdepicted. According to one implementation a user using a first device(i.e. the user's device), such as Caller Device 206B may call a targetdevice, such as Callee Device 206C. Additionally, the first device, suchas Caller Device 206B, may send a query via a communication network 110,such as a cellular network (e.g., communication network 110) to aCoordinating Server 112 requesting a list of the phone numbers in theuser's contact list stored on the first device 206B associated withpeople whose device is collocated near the Callee Device 206C (i.e., thetarget device). The Coordinating Server 112 may return informationpertaining to which devices (e.g., Collocated Contact Device 206D)belonging to the people in the user's contact list who may be collocatednear the callee. Such information may be displayed on the screen of thefirst device 206B by displaying the phone number of the contact person'sname adjacent to the contact information of the people whose devices arecollocated. According to one implementation, information pertaining tocollocated devices may be displayed; however, information pertaining toa non-collocated device, such as Non-Collocated Contact Device 206A, maynot be displayed.

As previously explained, this may allow the caller (i.e., the user usingthe first device 206B) to invite other callers who are collocated withthe callee who is using the target device (i.e., Callee Device 206C) tojoin the call using short range communication technologies, such asBluetooth or WI-FI. Additionally, once the initial call has been placed,the present embodiment may update the displayed list of collocated usersas they are no longer are present or collocated near the callee duringthe time of the call.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an operational flowchart 300 illustrating thesteps carried out by a program to determine if a target device iscollocated with other devices in a user's contact list in accordancewith one embodiment is depicted. For example, the Target DeviceCollocator Program 108A, 108B (FIG. 1) may be implemented as running ona client computer 102 (FIG. 1) or server computer 112 (FIG. 1).Alternatively, in some implementations, the Target Device CollocatorProgram 108A, 108B (FIG. 1) may run in a distributed manner on both theclient computer 102 (FIG. 1) and the server computer 112 (FIG. 1). Aspreviously described, a user using client computer 102 (FIG. 1) mayexecute the Target Device Collocator Program 108A, 108B (FIG. 1) todetermine if a target device is collocated with other devices in auser's contacts list.

With respect to FIG. 3 at 302, a caller (i.e., a user) may view theircontact list on a first device (i.e., a caller's or user's device 206B(FIG. 2)). Then at 304, the first device 206B (FIG. 2) may consult acoordinating server 112 (FIG. 2) to find collocated contacts. As such,the first device 206B (FIG. 2) may send a query to a coordinating server112 (FIG. 2) requesting a list of phone numbers and the collocateddevices associated with people who are listed as contacts on the user'sdevice (i.e., the first device 206B (FIG. 2)). The coordinating server112 (FIG. 2) may build an updatable table of Global Positioning System(GPS) data for the entries in the user's contact list. Based on this GPSdata, it may be determined whether one or more groups of contacts withinthe user's contact list are collocated. It may be appreciated that otherexemplary location finding techniques (e.g., cellular) may be employedto ascertain the location of the user's contacts.

According to at least one implementation, the mechanism for determiningcollocation may be based on the two locations of the contacts beingwithin a distance threshold. The threshold may be changed by the user;however, the system may have the capability to accurately locatecontacts in different areas such that it would may be shorter in areaswhere the location could be determined more accurately and greater inareas where the location is harder to determine accurately. The presentembodiment may also take into account how recently a location wasidentified. Another implementation may also detect if the two partiesare moving together by comparing their movement vectors, such that twocontacts in a moving train may be judged as being collocated but twocontacts in vehicles moving in the opposite direction may not bedetermined as being collocated at the instant that they pass each other.The present embodiment; therefore, allows a user to be made aware ofcollocation at the point of initiating communication with the party(e.g. placing or receiving a voice call or sending and receiving amessage) only when two contacts are determined to be collocated by thesystem.

Next at 306, the first device 206B (FIG. 2) displays the collocatedusers for the displayed contacts. As such, according to oneimplementation, the coordinating server 112 (FIG. 2) may returninformation to the caller displaying the phone numbers and locations ofthe devices associated with collocated people who are listed as contactson the user's device (i.e., the first device 206B (FIG. 2))

Then at 308, it is determined whether the user selects to call acontact. As such, the user may select to call a contact from the user'scontact list. If at 308, it is determined that the user does not selectto call a contact, then the method may end. However, if at 308, it isdetermined that the user does select to call a contact (i.e., a targetdevice or a callee device 206C (FIG. 2)), then the method continues tostep 310.

Next at 310, the first device (206B FIG. 2) displays an updated list ofcollocated users. Therefore the first device 206B (FIG. 2) may displayan updated list of collocated users based on the location of theselected contact 206C (FIG. 2).

Then at 312, it is determined whether the user selects to patch in(i.e., connect) a collocated device 206D (FIG. 2). If at 312 it isdetermined that the user does not select to patch in a collocated device206D (FIG. 2), then the method may end. However, if at 312 it isdetermined that the user does select to patch in a collocated device206D (FIG. 2), then the method continues to step 314.

Next at 314, the selected collocated phone 206D (FIG. 2) is patched into the conversation using between the first device 206B (FIG. 2) and thetarget device (i.e., the callee device 206C (FIG. 2)) using short rangenetwork technology, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Therefore, the selectedcollocated device 206D (FIG. 2) may be connected to the first device206B (FIG. 2) and the callee device 206C (FIG. 2).

It may be appreciated that FIG. 3 provides only an illustration of oneimplementation and does not imply any limitations with regard to howdifferent embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to thedepicted environments may be made based on design and implementationrequirements. For example, the present embodiment may be implemented sothat a callee may see who is present with the caller when the calleereceives a call from the caller. Additionally, the present embodimentmay be implemented with instant messaging, direct messaging on socialwebsites, and direct messaging on email communication as long as thedevice and instant messaging, direct messaging or email identity may betied together.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram 400 of internal and external components ofcomputers depicted in FIG. 1 in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that FIG.4 provides only an illustration of one implementation and does not implyany limitations with regard to the environments in which differentembodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depictedenvironments may be made based on design and implementationrequirements.

Data processing system 800, 900 is representative of any electronicdevice capable of executing machine-readable program instructions. Dataprocessing system 800, 900 may be representative of a smart phone, acomputer system, PDA, or other electronic devices. Examples of computingsystems, environments, and/or configurations that may represented bydata processing system 800, 900 include, but are not limited to,personal computer systems, server computer systems, thin clients, thickclients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based systems, network PCs, minicomputer systems, anddistributed cloud computing environments that include any of the abovesystems or devices.

User client computer 102 (FIG. 1), and network server 112 (FIG. 1) mayinclude respective sets of internal components 800 a, b and externalcomponents 900 a, b illustrated in FIG. 4. Each of the sets of internalcomponents 800 a, b includes one or more processors 820, one or morecomputer-readable RAMs 822 and one or more computer-readable ROMs 824 onone or more buses 826, and one or more operating systems 828 and one ormore computer-readable tangible storage devices 830. The one or moreoperating systems 828 and Target Device Collocator Program 108A (FIG. 1)in client computer 102 (FIG. 1) and Target Device Collocator Program108B (FIG. 1) in network server computer 112 (FIG. 1) are stored on oneor more of the respective computer-readable tangible storage devices 830for execution by one or more of the respective processors 820 via one ormore of the respective RAMs 822 (which typically include cache memory).In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the computer-readabletangible storage devices 830 is a magnetic disk storage device of aninternal hard drive. Alternatively, each of the computer-readabletangible storage devices 830 is a semiconductor storage device such asROM 824, EPROM, flash memory or any other computer-readable tangiblestorage device that can store a computer program and digitalinformation.

Each set of internal components 800 a, b, also includes a R/W drive orinterface 832 to read from and write to one or more portablecomputer-readable tangible storage devices 936 such as a CD-ROM, DVD,memory stick, magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disk orsemiconductor storage device. A software program, such as Target DeviceCollocator Program 108A (FIG. 1) and 108B (FIG. 1), can be stored on oneor more of the respective portable computer-readable tangible storagedevices 936, read via the respective R/W drive or interface 832 andloaded into the respective hard drive 830.

Each set of internal components 800 a, b also includes network adaptersor interfaces 836 such as a TCP/IP adapter cards, wireless Wi-Fiinterface cards, or 3G or 4G wireless interface cards or other wired orwireless communication links. The Target Device Collocator Program 108A(FIG. 1) in client computer 102 (FIG. 1) and Target Device CollocatorProgram 108B (FIG. 1) in network server 112 (FIG. 1) can be downloadedto client computer 102 (FIG. 1) from an external computer via a network(for example, the Internet, a local area network or other, wide areanetwork) and respective network adapters or interfaces 836. From thenetwork adapters or interfaces 836, the Target Device Collocator Program108A (FIG. 1) in client computer 102 (FIG. 1) and the Target DeviceCollocator Program 108B (FIG. 1) in network server computer 112 (FIG. 1)are loaded into the respective hard drive 830. The network may comprisecopper wires, optical fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls,switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers.

Each of the sets of external components 900 a, b can include a computerdisplay monitor 920, a keyboard 930, and a computer mouse 934. Externalcomponents 900 a, b can also include touch screens, virtual keyboards,touch pads, pointing devices, and other human interface devices. Each ofthe sets of internal components 800 a, b also includes device drivers840 to interface to computer display monitor 920, keyboard 930 andcomputer mouse 934. The device drivers 840, R/W drive or interface 832and network adapter or interface 836 comprise hardware and software(stored in storage device 830 and/or ROM 824).

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

1. A method to determine whether a target device is collocated with atleast one other device within a plurality of mobile devices associatedwith a user's contact list stored on a user's device, the methodcomprising: determining location information for each of the pluralityof mobile devices associated with the user's contact list; selecting, bya user, a target device within the plurality of mobile devicesassociated with the user's contact list; determining, based on thelocation information, whether the selected target device is collocatedwith the at least one other device within the plurality of mobiledevices associated with the user's contact list; displaying the at leastone other collocated device to the user; determining if the at least oneother collocated device is selected by the user; and connecting thetarget device and the selected at least one other collocated device tothe user's device based on the determining indicating that the at leastone other collocated device is selected.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein connecting the target device and the selected at least one othercollocated device to the user's device comprises the use of an existingshort range technology.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thedetermining location information for each of the plurality of mobiledevices associated with the user's contact list comprises querying acoordinating server.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the connectingthe target device and the selected at least one other collocated deviceto the user's device comprises displaying an updated list of collocatedusers as the collocated users are no longer present or collocated nearthe selected target device.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thedisplaying the at least one other collocated device to the usercomprises displaying a contact person name adjacent to a plurality ofcontact information associated with the at least one other collocateddevice.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the displaying the at leastone other collocated device to the user comprises a plurality ofnon-collocated devices not being displayed.
 7. The method of claim 2,wherein the existing short range technology comprises at least one ofBluetooth communication or Wi-Fi communication.
 8. A computer system todetermine whether a target device is collocated with at least one otherdevice within a plurality of mobile devices associated with a user'scontact list stored on a user's device, the computer system comprising:one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one ormore computer-readable tangible storage medium, and program instructionsstored on at least one of the one or more tangible storage medium forexecution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least oneof the one or more memories, wherein the computer system is capable ofperforming a method comprising: determining location information foreach of the plurality of mobile devices associated with the user'scontact list; selecting, by a user, a target device within the pluralityof mobile devices associated with the user's contact list; determining,based on the location information, whether the selected target device iscollocated with the at least one other device within the plurality ofmobile devices associated with the user's contact list; displaying theat least one other collocated device to the user; determining if the atleast one other collocated device is selected by the user; andconnecting the target device and the selected at least one othercollocated device to the user's device based on the determiningindicating that the at least one other collocated device is selected. 9.The computer system of claim 8, wherein connecting the target device andthe selected at least one other collocated device to the user's devicecomprises the use of an existing short range technology.
 10. Thecomputer system of claim 8, wherein determining location information foreach of the plurality of mobile devices associated with the user'scontact list comprises querying a coordinating server.
 11. The computersystem of claim 8, wherein the connecting the target device and theselected at least one other collocated device to the user's devicecomprises displaying an updated list of collocated users as thecollocated users are no longer present or collocated near the selectedtarget device.
 12. The computer system of claim 8, wherein thedisplaying the at least one other collocated device to the usercomprises displaying a contact person name adjacent to a plurality ofcontact information associated with the at least one other collocateddevice.
 13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the displaying theat least one other collocated device to the user comprises a pluralityof non-collocated devices not being displayed.
 14. The computer systemof claim 9, wherein the existing short range technology comprises atleast one of Bluetooth communication or Wi-Fi communication.
 15. Acomputer program product to determine whether a target device iscollocated with at least one other device within a plurality of mobiledevices associated with a user's contact list stored on a user's device,the computer program product comprising: one or more computer-readabletangible storage medium and program instructions stored on at least oneof the one or more tangible storage medium, the program instructionsexecutable by a processor, the program instructions comprising: programinstructions to determine location information for each of the pluralityof mobile devices associated with the user's contact list; programinstructions to select, by a user, a target device within the pluralityof mobile devices associated with the user's contact list; programinstructions to determine, based on the location information, whetherthe selected target device is collocated with the at least one otherdevice within the plurality of mobile devices associated with the user'scontact list; program instructions to display the at least one othercollocated device to the user; program instructions to determine if theat least one other collocated device is selected by the user; andprogram instructions to connect the target device and the selected atleast one other collocated device to the user's device based on thedetermining indicating that the at least one other collocated device isselected.
 16. The computer program product of claim 15, whereinconnecting the target device and the selected at least one othercollocated device to the user's device comprises the use of an existingshort range technology.
 17. The computer program product of claim 15,wherein the determining location information for each of the pluralityof mobile devices associated with the user's contact list comprisesquerying a coordinating server.
 18. The computer program product ofclaim 15, wherein the connecting the target device and the selected atleast one other collocated device to the user's device comprisesdisplaying an updated list of collocated users as the collocated usersare no longer present or collocated near the selected target device. 19.The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the displaying the atleast one other collocated device to the user comprises displaying acontact person name adjacent to a plurality of contact informationassociated with the at least one other collocated device.
 20. Thecomputer program product of claim 19, wherein the displaying the atleast one other collocated device to the user comprises a plurality ofnon-collocated devices not being displayed.